Believe it or not, what you're looking at above is a set of headphones -- let's explain. It's no secret that Skullcandy has been working to improve its tattered repertoire with headphone junkies for the past two years. Nowadays, it's not uncommon to hear generally favorable opinions about its Jay-Z-endorsed Roc Nation Aviators ($150), and the company has apparently taken notice. Aiming to build on the success it's had blending sunglasses with headphones, it's now ready to let loose a "smaller sibling" into the lineup -- and we've been able to get an exclusive first look and listen.

Without further ado, say hello to the Navigator. Priced at $99, it features a similar aviator-esque style to Jay-Z's model, albeit in a petite on-ear package -- we'd say the design direction this time is even better looking, too. The cans have collapsible earcups with flat earpads and metal construction (just like you'd find on sunglasses), with a faux leather-wrapped headband and a flat tangle-resistant cable (detachable) which houses an iDevice-compatible three-button remote and microphone. Skullcandy is being light on technical details at the moment, but we do know that the headphones will come in a choice of black or black with blue lenses earcups. Interests piqued? The Navigator will officially land at Apple stores tomorrow, where they'll be an exclusive offering until the end of the month -- in the meantime, join us past the break for our initial impressions.

We've gotta say it, the build quality of the Nav is right on par with that of high-end sunglasses, and the earcups adjust into position along the headrails with secure and satisfying clicks. That said, the earcups have almost no articulation, and we had to actually bend the "frame" into shape a bit before we got a useable fit. Sure, this is normal for actual glasses, but needing to torque a brand set of headphones into position did feel disconcerting. We still haven't been able to the get the fit just right, but we're optimistic that we'll get there with a bit more patience and tweaking. Aside from that, the plastic "lenses" on the outsides of earcups pick up up fingerprints ultra quick, but they don't standout too much thanks to the black finish-- we'd imagine it might be easier to see on the blue model.

The Navigator to feels very lightweight on the head, and the earpads do a fairly good job of keeping things cushy. This editor did experience cartilage cramps near the backs of his ears after an hour or so of wearing the cans, however -- a niggle at best. We'd have no issue using these for short commutes, but for longer listens we'd probably advise you to go for the larger Aviators if you're heart's set on this style. We never dealt with the cable tangling up or transferring loads of cable noise into the earcups, and we're very impressed with the feel of the inline remote. It's very tactile, allowing for operation without fumbling or accidentally hitting the wrong button.

You may have noticed that the Navigator's box has the phrase "Supreme Sound" on it. As we touched on earlier, Skullcandy's been using this as a motto to highlight its focus on better audio quality -- and not just making fashionable headgear. That in mind, we're happy to report that the cans sound solid for the price point. The voicing is expectedly on the slightly muddy side of things with a very narrow soundstage, but the tonality is mostly smooth (read: not extremely harsh or fatiguing). Better yet, the drivers don't seem to distort aggressively with the volume jacked up. It's not boom-heavy sound by any means, but the highs are definitely a veiled due to the bass emphasis. If you like dubstep these will do the trick, all while maintaining just enough bite so that the throaty top-end of bass lines -- like that of Mike Dirnt's on Green Day's album Dookie -- don't get totally drowned in the mix. The headphones also provide a fair amount of isolation, so they'll spare you the need to crank the volume excessively in the likes of subways. Speaking of, we had no issue driving them with our iPhone 5, and found they were slightly louder than Logitech's $99 UE headphones at the same volume setting. For perspective, Logitech's offering does sound a bit more balanced with clearer highs, but from a usability standpoint the Navigator is more compelling option for day-to-day use (the UEs don't fold up, for example). Of course it'll take more listening to make a definitive call, but we don't think you can really go wrong with the Navigators as it stands, so long as your expectations are in-line with the price -- and try not to confuse them for your shades.

Skullcandy headphones often seem like a victory of style over substance, but the company continues to improve the audio performance of its lineup. With the Navigator, we have a budget-friendly pair that finally offers quality, clean sound to match the brand's cool styling. Like the Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviator before them, the Navigator resembles a pair of Ray Ban Aviator sunglasses, but at $99.95 (direct), it's more affordable. Deep bass is delivered distortion-free, and though the Navigator lacks the added treble edge that helps vocals, guitars, or strings stand out, the overall performance is solid. Those who like cool sunglasses and deep bass—but not overwhelming portions of it—are encouraged to read on.

Design
The snazzy Navigator features a housing for the drivers that looks similar to the lens of the famous Aviator sunglasses, while the earpads are plush, comfortable, and branded with a cut-out Skullcandy logo—which is, you guessed it, a stylized skull. The headband is also padded, but can get slightly uncomfortable over long listening periods. Adjusting the fit is easy, with the housings sliding up or down along a metallic-colored band.

Like many headphones today, the Navigator folds down for compact storage. A black drawstring protective pouch is included, but the inside of it isn't ideal. The soft black felt material lining sheds just enough that if you move your hand around inside it for a few seconds, it comes out coated in black lint—the same is true for your headphones. This may change over time, but it was a turn-off that made the bag less useful at the outset.

On the upside, the audio cable is detachable. This adds tremendous value to the Navigator's already-reasonable price, as cables are typically the first thing to malfunction when headphones stop working—replacing a cable is a lot cheaper than replacing the whole thing, or sending it in for repair.

The cable includes in-line controls and a microphone for mobile devices—you can control playback and volume, as well as answer and end calls. Call clarity is more or less par for the course—you can understand your call partner and they will understand you, but call clarity on mobile devices remains weak pretty much across the board, and there's little the microphone and drivers on this or any other pair of headphones can do to improve the situation.

Performance
The audio performance of the Navigator is impressive for this price range. The overall balance is definitely focused on the lows and low-mid frequencies, but it delivers everything clearly and cleanly. Even at maximum volume (an unsafe listening level, by the way) on the Knife's "Silent Shout," a track with challenging low frequencies that often distorts on $100-range headphones, the Navigator did not distort at all, nor did it become a muddy mess. The synth kick drum hits are powerful, and at high volumes, noticeably vibrate the headphones, but the audio was unaffected. At more moderate levels, the low end is still delivered with intensity, and the overall mix is still articulate, though it seems to lack a lot of punch in the high-mids and highs.

Bill Callahan's baritone vocals on "Drover" are delivered with slightly less treble edge than I'm used to hearing. This doesn't mean the vocals get lost in the mix, nor does the mix feel overly muddy, but the overall sound could use a bit more high-mid frequency presence.

The kick drum loop on Jay-Z and Kanye West's "No Church in the Wild", however, has enough treble punch to highlight the attack of the hit, which is nicely complimented by the deep bass synth hits underneath the loop. So, the higher frequency edge of some vocals, depending on who's singing and how they were recorded, may lack some bite, but it's not an exclusive rule—the kick on this track has plenty of high-mid punch on its attack, and even the vocals seem a bit more present.

On classical tracks like John Adams' "The Chairman Dances," the lower register strings are represented quite nicely. Sometimes, headphones that emphasize deep bass, like Beats by Dr. Dre Wireless $246.36 at Crutchfield.com, add so much low-end punch that the lower register strings, brass, and percussion sound almost amplified and unnatural. The big drum hits at the end of this song have just the right amount of low end presence—nothing too over-the-top, but they definitely have some depth to them. The higher register strings and wooden percussion are a bit less bright and present than they could be, but things remain generally clear, despite the slightly less crisp approach.

If a slightly brighter, crisper edge is what you seek, without going overboard, the Bowers & Wilkins P3 $199.95 at Apple Store is comparatively slightly brighter (and more expensive), while remaining far more neutral than many competing pairs that pump up both the bass and the treble. If booming bass is what you want, the Navigator offers a solid dose, but more can always be had: Check out the recent Logitech UE 6000 $245.99 at Amazon Marketplace if that's what you're looking for. And if your budget tops out below, say, $100, I'm sorry to say that there aren't a ton of excellent options as we descend lower down the price chain, but the $60 RHA SA950i is a solid pair with some serious bass. For $100, however, the Skullcandy Navigator brings deep bass, keeps it in check, and does so in style.